Abstract: A hand-held electric soldering/desoldering tool has an elongated soldering tip secured to one end of an elongated handle in substantially coaxial alignment therewith by means of a three-point, spring loaded mechanical suspension arrangement resiliently securing the soldering tip to the handle for allowing excessive pressure applied to the handle to be taken up by the spring-loaded suspension thereby preventing such excessive pressure from being applied to a workpiece. The three-point suspension arrangement includes three support members fixed to the handle and having juxtaposed ends passing freely through aligned openings in a support plate attached to the soldering tip. Each support member has a head biased into engagement with the support plate by a coil spring surrounding the support member and disposed between the support plate and handle.

Abstract: A process for producing sulfuric acid and caustic soda by the electrolysis of an alkali metal sulfate in a membrane cell having a hydrogen depolarized anode. Hydrogen gas in the anode chamber is oxidized to produce hydrogen cations which combine with the sulfate anions from the aqueous alkali metal sulfate solution to produce sulfuric acid. Alkali metal ions are transported across the membrane to the cathode to produce caustic and gaseous hydrogen. By oxidizing hydrogen at the anode, the cell voltage for the electrolysis of the alkali metal sulfate is substantially reduced.

Abstract: A CRT display is provided with a multiple-pole, double-throw switching mechanism, which in conjunction with alternate circuitry provides a means for easily reconfiguring the CRT display presentation. By operating the switches the normal left to right, the top to bottom raster scan may, for example, become a bottom to top, left to right raster scan. When applied to a multicolor CRT display, a second multiple-pole, double-throw switching mechanism serves, upon operation, to redirect beam convergence signals in compliance with the reconfigured format effected by switching the deflection signals.

Abstract: A water/gas separator for individual cells of an H.sub.2 /O.sub.2 fuel cell battery includes porous hydrophilic discs which transport water but block passage of the oxidant gas.

Abstract: An ultrasonic temperature sensor is based upon the variation in the speed of propagation of a torsional wave in a material whose torsional modulus varies as a function of temperature. A transducer for producing a torsional wave is coupled through an accoustic waveguide to a sensor element which has a torsional modulus which varies with temperature. A discontinuity in the sensor causes a portion of the torsional wave to be reflected while the remainder traverses the sensor and is reflected. The time delay between the first and second pulses is thus a measure of the temperature.

Abstract: A volumetric flow measuring system includes two counter-rotating turbines axially displaced along the flow path. Because the turbines rotate in opposite directions, the net change of the sum of the main and sensor turbine signals due to non-axial or "swirl" components in the flow is zero thus cancelling their effects. In addition, the sensor turbine is operated at a lower speed than the main turbine so that main turbine speed errors due to "slip" (i.e. reduction of turbine speed from theoretical due to restraining torques) are counteracted by an increase in sensor speed. The only error then is the sensor turbine "slip" error which is smaller than the main turbine "slip" error by a factor equal to the ratio of the main and sensor turbine speeds.

Abstract: A high voltage power supply of the flyback type typically used in cathode ray tube displays or TV receivers operates in synchronism with the scan rate frequency of display and may either be self-synchronizing, externally synchronized, or externally directly driven. The power supply has a relatively high efficiency (75%), regulates three output voltages to within .+-.0.1% against source voltage variations and regulates its highest level voltage output to within .+-.0.1% against source voltage and load variations.

Abstract: A gas generating apparatus and method is described which utilizes a novel catalytic oxygen evolving electrode for such electrochemical systems as electrolysis cells and oxygen concentration cells. The electrochemical cells include a catalytic cathode and an improved catalytic anode positioned on opposite sides of, and in electrical contact with, a cation exchange membrane. A source of direct current potential between the cathode and the anode and means for removing gas from at least one of the electrodes are provided. The improved catalytic anode is a ternary platinum group reduced metal oxide alone or in combination with platinum group metals and/or platinum group metal oxides or mixtures of the foregoing having at least one valve metal component such as titanium, hafnium, zirconium, niobium, tantalum, and tungsten.

Abstract: A bank-to-bank pursuit controller provides rapid and precise pursuit steering control toward a target point with direction substantially different from the vehicle direction of travel using positive lift load factors between zero and a specified maximum to generate commands which rotate the vehicle toward the target point at every instant of time.

Abstract: An anti-vibration support for the unsupported tip of a thermocouple probe consists of a resilient, compressible, multi-sided sleeve. The sleeve is positioned between the outer surface of the probe and the inner wall of the protective housing. The sides of the resilient sleeve are deformed on insertion between the probe and the wall forcing the edges formed by the intersection of the sides of sleeve firmly into contact with the wall. This multi-point or multi-line contact between the sleeve and the wall firmly secures the tip end of the probe against vibration.

Abstract: The integrated electrochemical/chemical oxygen generating system of the invention includes a water electrolyzer combined with a chemical oxygen generating subsystem which converts hydrogen from the electrolyzer to a decomposable oxygen source such as hydrogen peroxide. The total oxygen output of such a system is greater than that possible from the electrolyzer alone while safely disposing of the electrochemically generated hydrogen.

Abstract: The response time of a thermocouple is improved by offsetting the outlet aspiration opening or openings in the thermocouple protective housing from the gas flow axis and the inlet opening. The outlet aspiration opening is located substantially at the gas separation point which is a point of minimum gas pressure. The degree of offset is thus chosen to maximize the pressure differential, .DELTA.P, between the inlet and the outlet openings. This increases the gas flow rate through the housing and past the thermocouple junction thereby substantially improving the thermocouple response time.

Abstract: A novel, electrocatalytic material comprising at least one reduced platinum group metal oxide is subsequently heated in the presence of oxygen at a temperature high enough to stabilize the catalyst in acidic and halogen environments. The catalyst optionally contains other thermally stabilized, reduced platinum group metal oxides, electroconductive extenders of the group consisting of graphite and oxides of transition or valve metals. A novel electrode structure includes the catalyst and a polymeric binder. A novel method of preparing the electrocatalytic material is described as well as a unitary electrolyte electrode structure which has a bonded electrode containing the novel electrocatalytic material, bonded to at least one side of a membrane-electrolyte.

Abstract: A gas generating apparatus and method is described which utilizes a novel catalytic oxygen evolving electrode for such electrochemical systems as electrolysis cells and oxygen concentration cells. The electrochemical cells include a catalytic cathode and an improved catalytic anode positioned on opposite sides of, and in electrical contact with, a cation exchange membrane. A source of direct current potential between the cathode and the anode and means for removing gas from at least one of the electrodes are provided. The improved catalytic anode is a ternary platinum group reduced metal oxide alone or in combination with platinum group metals and/or platinum group metal oxides or mixtures of the foregoing having at least one valve metal component such as titanium, hafnium, zirconium, niobium, tantalum and tungsten.

Abstract: A three layer cation transporting membrane in which the interior layer has the best hydroxyl ion (OH) rejection characteristics. The outer layers are preferably porous.

Abstract: A tuned coriolis, angular rate measuring device includes a substantially hollow, generally annular rotor driven by a high-speed, synchronous spin motor. The rotor is made unsymmetrical by mounting within the rotor near its periphey at least a pair of high density masses, the respective masses being located diametrically opposite one another. The rotor is secured within a gimbal structure which is, in turn, mounted in tuned fashion upon a support housing through a cantilever spring at each end along the gimbal output axis, thereby providing bearingless, frictionless pivots permitting limited gimbal rotation. A pair of piezo-electric crystals is secured at opposite edges of one of the springs for sensing relative angular motion between the gimbal and the housing. The crystals are electrically paralleled so as to cancel any signals resulting from linear movement between the gimbal and housing.

Abstract: The performance of a permselective cation transporting membrane is improved by making the membrane a three or more layer structure in which the layer having the best hydroxyl (OH) ion rejection characteristic is in the interior of the membrane. The OH ion rejection layer, which typically has sulfonamide or carboxylic functional groups, is covered by a cation transporting layer having sulfonate functional groups to which the cathode electrode is attached by bonding or otherwise. This keeps the high caustic concentrations present at the membrane-electrode interface away from the sulfonamide, etc. rejection layer.

Abstract: An optical fiber position sensor includes an optical fiber cable wound in the shape of a single layer, tightly wound coil, the coil being secured to a first member. A second member, which is linearly movable with respect to the first member, has fixed thereto an LED which is aimed at the coil such that radiation being emitted from the LED is injected approximately tangentially into the coil. Radiation being transmitted through the coil is attenuated as a function of the distance that it travels therethrough and as a result, radiation exiting the coil through the terminations is representative of the location of the movable member with respect to the fixed member.

Abstract: An optical fiber position sensor wherein a first member is rotationally movable with respect to a second member. A generally rod-shaped fiber optic cable is provided having two elongated portions in close axial alignment. The interface surfaces of the two portions have equal face angles of approximately 30-35 degrees from the longitudinal axis. One of the cable portions is secured to the first member and the other cable portion is secured to the second member.